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I only went down 2.5 in the first week, and I had plication on top of being banded! Don't even think about the weight loss for a few weeks, and BAM! It WILL start to happen! liquids doesn't necessarily mean weight loss... right now you're doing it to heal! take care!

Hi Alexis: Congratulations on your decision. First let me address the "easy way out" line. I would have those family members watch the online seminars for this procedure and make sure they know what you're going to have to go through. This is not an easy way out...it is a tool. Its a tool just like excercise or Weight Watchers or the phentermine. It just happens to be a surgical one. You will still have to watch what you eat, measure your foods, excercise and follow doctor's orders. Okay...now that I have that off my chest (and I apologize if it seemed rude).... I was back at work about 6 days after my surgery. I am 4 weeks post-op and still am careful about certain things. My incisions have healed on the outside, but every now and then, I still feel a twinge here and there that I attribute to the abdominal muscles/nerves healing. As for excercise, after the first week/ 1 1/2 weeks, my doctor told me I could do light excercise and that if it hurt, to stop. However, your doctor may want you to do something different. This a journey. Some days will suck (like the few after the surgery when all that gas they pump into you makes you feel bloated) but there should be more good days...like the first time you step on the scale and see a HUGE hunka pounds gone...or putting on a pair of jeans that fit...or when out of the blue someone looks at you and says "wow, you look great!" There's the day that you realize you've done more in the excercise department than you ever thought you would...or when you realize that you're actually full from a 1/2 cup of food. What ever day it happens to be, I personally think its worth it. It has been for me so far. and...you have other bandsters here to support you and answer your questions and to cheer along with you. God bless you and keep us posted on your journey!

Yeah! good for you!!! I am 2 months post op on the 17th and I am down 30lbs as well!!!! I know without the bad I would have gained weight this year so it is great!

I've felt a small change in my voice but nothing like what you've mentioned. I think that when you lose a lot of weight your vocal system could become more fragile and maybe that's what you're experiencing. I still think you should maybe talk to your PCP about it just to make sure it's not anything else.

I am looking into a lap band after gastric bypass. I had the Roux-en-Y bypass 12 years ago. Lost 100 lbs., kept it off for about 3 years and then started to gain a little bit back each year. I gained about 85 of it back and have been at this weight (290) for 3 or so years now. What I have learned (a little late, of course!) through my journey...NONE of these procedures are some magic thing that will keep the weight off forever. Everything can be sabotaged and pushed to failure! They are just one tool that can help but we have to change our lifestyle. I have gotten smarter as I've gotten older and hopefully have figured this out...not to late. I am not even sure if the surgeon I am seeing at the end of the month will even to a band after bypass. He needs to put a scope down into my stomach to see if it is possible. We are doing that April 23. I have joined Weight Watchers and Curves to help me change my lifestyle. It seems to be helping but sometimes I feel like I need the restrictions from a band to keep me in check. Jenniferhlee: I don't mean any disrespect but it seems to me that choosing to go to Mexico for your band wasn't the best decision. I am curious as to why you would go to Mexico for this surgery? You said that everything goes straight through you or comes back up--how could you gain any weight this way? It doesn't make sense to me. There can be complications with bypass surgery too. The band is simply put around the top part of your stomach-bypass surgery re-routes your intestines. It is major!! Please make sure you have a top notch bariactric surgeon from the US help you.

I'm right there with you. Only feeling hungry a tiny bit here and there. Still on full liquids until next Tuesday when I go back for my post-op and change over to mushies. My office told me they had a lady who had the surgery who did not have a fill for the first year. The mental idea of just having the band inside was enough that she maintained a good, steady weight loss without extra restriction. So, you never know. I have to imagine, there has to be "some" restriction even without a fill in it.

I'm a tourer and an evening ride is rarely less than 20mi, I commute 23 each way to work when I can, and we'll do 125-250mi rides every other weekend. This is just my opinion in order of importance..... Fit---the seat too low, or too high, or too far forward, or too far back is one of the biggest culprits. It's all about physics. You have three points of contact....hands, feet, and butt. You need to find balance. Putting a little more weight on the hands can take major pressure off the butt. A pro bike fit might be overboard for most. Google "bike fit". There are plenty of great references out there. Saddles---Padding can be a problem. It compresses and bunches as you pedal and ends up in places you don't want it. The plain leather saddle or lightly padded gel saddle is a good choice. Bike shops will usually let you try a saddle for 30 days. Shorts/bibs--- you get what you pay for. Buy a national brand (like pearl Izumi) at a bike shop and get fitted. Spend $100. You'll be a lot happier and they should last for 5+ years. Oh...and don't wear anything under them!! Lube---an often overlooked gem. I slather either "Butt Butt'r" or Bag Balm on my parts. Call it a couple tablespoons. It kinda helps all the pieces down there slide into a comfortable spot. :-/ I hope this helps. Biking is such a great low impact activity because you can see a lot more of your neighborhood, it's practical (get a backpack and get a few groceries or run an errand) and almost everyone can do it. Have fun and be safe out there.

I read that same article and yes, I weigh every day. Part of the reason I do is that my weight gain came from ignoring the scale. I knew I was putting on weight and didn't get on a scale for 5 years because I didn't want to see that number..... Ignorance is NOT bliss and just because you don't look doesn't mean it isn't there. I will weigh myself daily for the rest of my life whether I want to or not and I will jump into action if I see a consistent increase - will never allow myself to be obese again!

Hi, Ryan!!! My name is Patty, and I live outside of Boston. I, too have been overweight since I was a kid, and have lost hundreds of pounds over the years. I got banded on July 1, and have lost about 70 lbs (about 50 pre op since may). It is by far the best decision I have made for myself in years. I wish I did it 10 years ago when I was thinking about it! So listen, you've got a great advantage!! Your youth!!!! seriously, the pounds come off easier, and with the band, they'll stay off.....plus your doing it early before doing too much damage to your heart and body. I applaud you on a great decision to take control of your life at such a young age!!!! The other thing about you being so young, is that you likely wont have many issues with excess skin, etc, as your body will rebound well, and work with your weight loss...if you were 40, yeah, not so much.....just remember when you're feeling up to it to put some exercise in your life...you will need strength training, along with cardio, and I bet your skin will look fantastic!!! Dont sweat the surgery...I didnt have any serious pain except some gas pain in my shoulder, and I was up walking that afternoon.....some pain in my port, but thats mostly due to my kids. I have 3 yr old triplets and my youngest has cerebral palsy, so I have no choice but to do some lifting.... so listen to your doctor and follow your pre op and post of diet. I use the EAS shakes (you can find them at Wal mart pretty cheap) and I use Protein powder as well (look for about 25 grams per scoop and as low carb as you can get...I get that from wal mart too) The eas shakes are really high in protein compared to the instant Breakfast and slim fast, and you dont need the carbs anyway... would love to keep in touch....give me a shout if you have any questions!! take care!!!

Great pictures, Chris. They brought back memories of my Alaska cruise many years ago. How did you like the cruising aspect? I don't remember if this was your first cruise. We choose cruising as our way of travel. I have 3 scheduled, Sep, Oct and Nov. I didn't do well on my last cruise - pb'd a lot and gained 10 pounds. How did you find the eating? I don't want to gain on my upcoming cruises. I can't afford to gain that much weight after all this work.

I am in the same boat, my insurance was saying as long as you have a BMI of 35 there will be no problems then i get a call from the doctor's office saying I need a 6 month doc supervised diet and exercise program. I have now seen the doctor to start the program but began to think about the times i have been to the doctor in the past year and i know my weight has been brought up so i have now started pulling records from my Dr. Office and OB/GYN. So maybe I can go to the doctors office for just a couple months instead of the 6 they are requiring. I am just wondering if there are going to be any more hurtles to jump after this? Hopefully I won't have to wait until April. I've been dieting since i was 16.

You are newly banded..restriction does not usually happen until you start getting your fills. This phase you are in is the healing phase for 6 weeks. Any weight loss during this phase is a bonus. Anytime you go from one stage to another like liquids to soft foods you may see a gain and then when you go from softs to solids you may see a gain, it is normal until your body adjusts. Yes lower BMI's will lose slower. Hng in there..once you start to get your fills you will feel the restriction.

I have the typical story...got preg and married at an early age..of course it didnt work out so 1 son and 2 miscarriges later I was starting over. I started to lose weight then got remarried and bam here comes another baby I have gained 130 pounds since high school and I am beyond sick of looking at it. I have been remarried for 8 years now and am the happiest i have ever been except my weight. I have looked into the lap bad along with gastric, sleeve and many other options. I am confident that lap band is the safest and best for me so after years of researching and wanting I am finally doing it!! November will change the rest of my life. I want to be able to go to my kids school and eat lunch with them without worrying that the kids in their class is going to make fun of them for have a "fat mom". I am scared, nervous, happy and excited all at the same time. The "what ifs are playing in the back of my head..what if I dont lose anything...what if i have a bad reaction to it..what if someone finds out that i am doing this (no i have not told a single sole except my husband for fear of being judged)... So wish me luck that i can get more sleep and that this WILL work

Hi, I had revision from band to gastric bypass on 8/1/13 and I am still struggling getting my Protein, liquids and calories. On a good day, I get the minimum (48 oz liquid 45-60 protein but approx. 500-600 cal). I just feel too full and can't fit anything else in. Getting these amount is a real painful struggle. I did have a recent complication of a hernia with my intestines twisted up and around the pouch. During that whole month of dire pain I was only getting 300-400 calories. I am healed up now, but I still struggle like I did before the complication getting 500-600 calories. Is there anyone else that struggles because they are just too darn full all the time? Oh I also have more pronounced food sensitivities. Most of the time I am in pain from trapped gas and I think about how I can't continue living like this. It's really depressing. I am happy that I am losing weight, but I don't feel successful, because I feel like crap everyday (lack of energy, dizzy, very depressed from lack of calories, and borderline wanting to end it all). Hubby says take it one day at a time, but I don't know if I can anymore. Doc told me to take beano, digestive enzymes and gave me prescription strength antacid. These things don't seen to work well. Please, is there anyone else going through this?

I agree. I think we take fat shaming too far. Someone giving guidance, especially someone paid to do so, is not try to make a person feel ashamed. Having said that, the manner in which that information is shared can be done with respect. I was never part of that movement or culture. I don't believe it is possible to be obese and healthy for an extended period of time. It will catch up with you eventually. That said, I don't believe in treating people badly, shaming them, stereotyping them, or discriminating against them based on body size or composition. I think that is terrible behavior. I also don't think that a health care professional telling an obese person that they need to lose weight is "shaming" -- but everyone else needs to STFU.

Good job. Keep working and striving to get the weight off and to keep your body toned.

Many type II diabetics "cured" by weight loss surgery. I was pre-diabetic in Dec with fasting blood sugar 115 and A1C 6.2. After diet and losing 20 pounds in prep for surgery, no longer pre-diabetic. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Ok, well I have been up movin around alot. Yesterday, my friend, her sister, and my step sister all went to the mall. I had lots of fun, but the hard part was when I became very hungry, my stomach started hurting, I was trying to wait till the others were hungry, so then i told them I had to eat something. So we went to the food court, there was not really nothing that I could eat. So my sister and I went to the Cajun food place, she ordered one small plate where we could share, we got some burbeon chicken, and some noodles and potatoes. I ate the chicken(small pieces), and ate some potatoes since that was something soft. I became full quickly, but I keep catching myself, still eating when I know I am satisfied. Then today at school, I went ahead and ate some scramble eggs, and some bacon. I bought some apple sauce for lunch time to eat. This week has been hard these are the todays I really have ate food like this, I did very good i think last week all soups. I guess yesterday i need something i could chew, but i did chew until it was small enough to swallow down my throat. Well all is well here, except my grandfather did pass away yesterday morning around 4am. That was really sad, eventhought I was entirely close to him, he was on my mothers side of the family. I will miss him though, I really am worried now about my Grandma, I love her so much. She has lost a daughter (my mom) and now her Husband. Its alot for her to handle. But I know she is a strong woman, and I know she will hang in there. I really want to try and visit her sometime this year. If not anyother time atleast Christmas or some part of the summer coming up. But I am very excited about loosing my weight, we have a scale, its my stepmoms but i know hers is wrong because wehen I went for my pre-op i was 235 thinking i was 220. So on hers i used to be 220ish (some where around that) Now I am at 210 so I see I have lost something, but today she is going to bring a scale from work. I am glad she works at a health place. Oh I can't wait for my trip to see my boyfriend in Jamaica, he is going to be like Whoa!! Hot Mamaz!!! (hahaha) :clap2:. I already found a bathing suit that I really really really want it is so cute, I found it in the Junior department in Foleys at Willowbrook yesterday. But it cost $76, I want it so bad. Its like a one piece but all the back is out, and it ties up on the neck and the colors are so different. I am going to try and get it, i was thinking about buying it soon. And hanging it up on my wall for something to look forward too. I might do that on my next check if i have it. So my goal is to really loose so major weight by June 23, because thats when we are leaving for JAM ROCK MON!!!!!! and my birthday is June 26 i will be 21. I know i always said i would never get a belly ring but that was because i thought i was to fat and that i would never show my belly but when i loose my weight i can a little. But loosing my weight is for a new beginning in my life. My step mom thinks it my go to my head, and become a little wild, but I really don't think i will be like that because thats just not me. I never really went out because i always felt tired no energy. But i am not going to lie I am going out to the beach parties when i go to JAMROCK MON!!!!! Just have a little fun!!! But ok . lAtErZ!!!!:eek:

Started pre-op diet 12/04/06 at 289 Pre-op testing 12/11/06 at 278 Banded 12/21/06 at 278 Follow up 01/03/06 at 267

I had to have my band completely emptied two weeks ago i have gained back 14 lbs so far. I can't get any fluid back in until the 22nd. I need help on how to get back into this thing before i gain all my weight back. If there is anyone out there with words of wisdom and encouragement i would greatly appriecate any help. thanks so much

I had to be completely unfilled due to gallbladder surgery. I was completely empty for three weeks while I was healing and had to start over again. I gained 5 pounds. It was a stuggle, but I measured my food like I always did, and tried my best to stick to it. Once I got my fills going again, it fell off in record time. I've lost 7 pounds since my last fill 3 weeks ago. Hang in there. It will work out fine.

Here are URL's for both: BioTrainer Weight Loss System - measure physical activity and caloric burn bodybugg armband device

I was sleeved 2 weeks ago to the day. I'm back at the office for the first time today, and I feel great! My first time back in work shoes... I walked 3 blocks downtown, and I've been thinking all over the office since 6am...my feet don't hurt AT ALL! AAAAAAAAAHH! Even if I never lose another ounce (which I know I will), my surgery was worth it if JUST for this. It feels so good to get my life back. Just thinking of all the things that used to being me joy, and how I'll be able to get to do them more has me bursting with joy. I suffered with Lupus and RA (steroids...) and to get even a portion of the weight off made a hell of a difference. Yay! Sleeves! LOL!

My thighs have always been big, even at a size 2, they were larger than most because if genetics and soccer. Now that I am losing weight, my thighs resemble melting candle wax. It's actually kind of amusing although I do hope the skin catches up with the weight loss, even a little. Instead of chub rub, I now have flap slap when I do martial arts. I can actually hear them slapping together when I do spinning kicks. GROSSSSSSSS!!!!

So, last night we were invited to go over to my sis-in-law's house to have BBQ and drinks and hang out. Well, since I am only one week out from surgery I did not think that the 8lbs that I have lost are that noticeable. So, I just put on some jogging pants and blouse that I would always wear. THE FIRST thing my sis-in-law said was that she could see I was losing weight! Mind you, they do not know about my operation. I was so happy on the outside and jumping for joy on the inside! It was my first family gathering since the surgery. It did not bother me that everyone was eating and drinking around me. I took my little can of Soup and drank it there with them at the dinner table. And drank two bottles of Water while I was there. BTW, they still don't know - I also have a cold so they figured I was not in the mood to eat nor drink and completely understood. It was great! ReadytoMaintain